Method and means for measuring plate structures

ABSTRACT

The apparatus of this invention comprises parallel table surface portions with an elongated slot therebetween. A carriage mean is mounted below the two table surfaces and has an upstanding pin extending therefrom and extending into the slot and slightly above the table surface. A spring extending from a support arm through which the pin extends and a washer affixed to the pin normally causes the pin to be in its uppermost protruding position. A lever is affixed to the lower end of the pin to compress the spring to cause the pin to retract within the slot. An elongated straight gauge member extneds across the table surface portions to serve as a measuring reference point. The method of this invention comprises the steps of withdrawing the pin from its protruding position, laying the plate to be measured on the table surface, moving the retracted pin within the elongated slot to the measuring position whether that be from an aperture in the plate or the opposite end of the plate, extending the pin either into the aperture or adjacent the far end of the plate, actuating the measuring device, and then if necessary, retracting the pin and moving it to a second measuring position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sheet metal and other structural plate products are conventionally cutto size, and apertures in the plate are punched or otherwise createdaccording to predetermined design considerations.

Quality control requires that the finished plates be remeasured toconfirm the accuracy of their length, width, and the precise location ofthe apertures.

Heretofore, it has been a practice in such quality control operations toutilize a table surface having an elongated slot extending at rightangles from a straight gauge means. A movable protruding pin rides inthe slot from a movable carriage. A suitable electronic measuring deviceis associated with the pin and a digital display.

A plate having a straight edge is abutted against the straight stopafter the pin has been moved longitudinally in the slot to provide spacebetween the pin and the stop to permit the plate to rest on the tablesurface. By bringing the pin to the edge of the plate opposite to thestop, and actuating the measuring device, the precise length of theplate can be confirmed.

If there are one or more apertures in the plate that need to have theirlocations verified, the plate is tilted upward so that the pin can bemoved longitudinally in the slot to ultimately be in a position topenetrate the aperture being measured when the plate is again laid flaton the table surface. Having to move the pin while the plate is layingon the table surface consumes unnecessary time and adds to the labor ofthe measuring device.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to have aselectively retractable pin in the slot of such a measuring table sothat the pin can be moved from position to position in a retractedcondition even when a plate is resting on the top supporting surface ofthe measuring table.

It is a further object of this invention to utilize such a retractablepin in a measuring table whereby the pin can be easily retracted by theoperator

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of this invention comprises parallel table surfaceportions with an elongated slot therebetween. A carriage means ismounted below the two table surfaces and has an upstanding pin extendingtherefrom and extending into the slot and slightly above the tablesurface. A spring extending from a support arm through which the pinextends and a washer affixed to the pin normally causes the pin to be init's uppermost protruding position. A lever is affixed to the lower endof the pin to compress the spring to cause the pin to retract within theslot.

An elongated straight gauge member extends across the table surfaceportions to serve as a measuring reference point.

The method of this invention comprises the steps of withdrawing the pinfrom it's protruding position, laying the plate to be measured on thetable surface, moving the retracted pin within the elongated slot to themeasuring position whether that be from an aperture in the plate or theopposite end of the plate, extending the pin either into the aperture oradjacent the far end of the plate, actuating the measuring device, andthen if necessary, retracting the pin and moving it to a secondmeasuring position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view thereof shown at an enlargedscale;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the table shown in anenlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged scale perspective view of the measuring pin, thecarriage device, the transport arms, and the lever control arms; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged scale sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The numeral 10 designates the measuring table of this invention. Arectangular frame 12 is supported by wheels 14. Rectangular tablesurfaces 16 and 18 are mounted on frame 12 and have an elongated slot 20extending therebetween. Table surface 16 is supported on frame members21 (FIG. 3) and table surface 16 is supported on frame member 22.

Parallel guide rods 24 are supported at their ends by brackets 26 whichare secured to the underneath side of table surface 18. A carriage 28having a laterally extending arm 30 has upstanding bearing blocks 31which slidably receive the guide rods 24. Bracket 32 extends downwardlyfrom carriage 28 and is rigidly secured to a laterally extendingtransport arm 34.

An elongated vertical pin 36 has a tapered upper end 38 and a lower end40. A washer 42 is welded to the substantially mid point of pin 36, anda spring 44 laterally slidably embraces pin 36 below washer 42. A sleeve45 has a suitable bore to slidably receive pin 36. Sleeve 45 is weldedor otherwise secured by it's lower end to the outer upper end of arm 30.The pin extends downwardly through sleeve 45 and through aperture 46 inarm 30, and thence through aperture 48 in transport arm 34.

A conventional measuring apparatus and digital display 50 is mounted onsupport 52, and is connected to carriage 28 and pin 38 in conventionalfashion by power cable 54. As will be explained more fully hereafter,the details of the measuring apparatus are conventional in the art anddo not alone comprise this invention.

Withdrawal levers 56 extend laterally outwardly underneath transport arm34 and extend through pivots 58 which are mounted on the lower surfaceof the transport arm. Pin 60 pivotally connects the inner ends of levers56 to the lower end of the pin 36.

A plate 62 having at least one straight edge 64 is laid on the surfaceof members 16 and 18 with the straight edge 64 abutting the straightgauge or stops 66. A typical plate 62 may have first and secondapertures 68 and 70, respectively, and a straight edge 72 opposite tostraight edge 64.

It should be understood that all of the aforementioned structures exceptthe retractable pin 36, the means for retracting the pin, and themethodology utilizing the retractable pin, is old and is prior art tothis invention. This invention comprises the concept of using theretractable pin as well as the structure pertaining to the retractablephenomenon, and the methodology whereby the retractable pin is utilizedin the measuring operation.

It should be noted that the spring 44 normally forces the pin upwardlyuntil the washer 42 abuts the lower surface of arm 30. In this position,pin 36 protrudes above the surface of the table surfaces 16 and 18, asbest shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

In the normal operation of this invention, the operator grasps one ofthe handles on the transport arm 30 and moves the carriage 28 to aposition to the far left as shown in FIG. 2. Usually, sheet metal platesare used on this type of apparatus. However, structural plates can alsobe utilized. In the drawings, the thickness of the plates has beenexaggerated to more fully illustrate the invention.

After the carriage has been moved to the far left, as explained above, aplate 62 is placed on the table surface. A straight edge 64 of the plateis abutted against stop 66. If it is desired to confirm the length ofthe plate, the carriage is moved to the right as seen in FIG. 2 so thatpin 36 abuts the edge 72 of the plate. The measuring apparatus 50 isthen actuated and the digital display visually reveals the measuredlength of the plate. The measuring apparatus takes into account that thedistance measured is the length of the plate between the stop 66 and thecylindrical surface of the pin 36.

When it is desired to confirm the location of an aperture, one of thelevers 56 is raised at it's outer end to cause the other end of thelever to pivot downwardly about one of the pivot points 58. Thiscompresses spring 44 and withdraws or retracts the pin .[.32.]. .Iadd.36.Iaddend.from it's protruding position above the surface of members 16and 18. The operator then moves the carriage 22 by grasping thetransport bar 34 to a position in substantial longitudinal alignmentwith the position of the aperture in the plate. FIG. 5 shows the pin.[.32.]. .Iadd.36 .Iaddend.in alignment with aperture 68. The plate mayhave to be moved laterally to bring the aperture in alignment with thelongitudinal position of the pin. When this has been done, the lever 56is released, and the pin protrudes into the aperture. The diameter ofthe aperture must not be greater than the total diameter of the pin.[.32.]. .Iadd.36.Iaddend.. However, the tapered upper end of pin 38 canpermit the measurement of apertures having a smaller diameter than thepin.

When the pin penetrates the aperture 68, the measuring device 50 isactuated and the distance between the center of the aperture and thestop 66 is visually displayed on the digital display 50. The operatorknows in advance what the dimension is supposed to read, and it can bevisually determined whether or not the aperture is properly positionedby viewing the visual display.

If the position of a second aperture is to be verified, the pin .[.32.]..Iadd.36 .Iaddend.is withdrawn from the first aperture 68 in the mannerdescribed, and the carriage and pin are then moved to the longitudinallocation of the second aperture 70. If necessary, the plate is movedlaterally so that the aperture 70 is positioned over the pin .[.32.]..Iadd.36.Iaddend.. The pin .[.32.]. .Iadd.36 .Iaddend.is then allowed topenetrate the second aperture 70. The measuring apparatus 50 isactuated. Depending on the program in the measuring device, the distancebetween the aperture 68 and 70 will be displayed, or the distancebetween the stop 66 and the second aperture is displayed. The operatorwill know which dimension is actually being measured, and can visuallydetermine the accuracy of the position of the second aperture by viewingthe digital display.

It is thus seen that the retractable pin .[.32.]. .Iadd.36.Iaddend.speeds the measuring operation and facilitates the laborinvolved in completing the measuring operation. This invention thereforeaccomplishes all of it's stated objectives.

I claim:
 1. A measuring device for fabricated plate structures,comprising,a flat table surface means, having opposite sides and ends, asupport means for such flat table surface means, a straight referencegauge means adjacent one end of said table surface means, and extendingacross said table surface means at right angles to said sides, anelongated straight slot in said table surface means extending in adirection at right angles to said gauge means, a carriage means movablymounted below said table surface, and adapted to be moved in a directionparallel to said slot, a measuring reference pin on said carriage andextending upwardly through said slot and having an upper end normallyterminating above said table surface, retracting means on said carriagefor selectively withdrawing said pin downwardly into said slot to permitsaid pin to be moved longitudinally in said slot when a plate structureis positioned on said table surface over .Iadd.said .Iaddend.slot, andmeasuring means operative with the location of said pin and said gaugemeans to measure the linear distance between the location of said pinwith respect to said gauge means so that measurements relating to thelocation of apertures in a plate structure with reference to one end ofsaid plate abutted against gauge means can be determined while said pinis in it's upper position and penetrating an aperture in said platestructure.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said carriage means ismounted on a pair of parallel guides which are parallel to said slot, anarm extending from said carriage means and extending below said slot, asleeve extending upwardly from said arm into said slot, said pin havinga tapered upper end and a lower end with its upper end slidably mountedwithin said sleeve, and spring means associated with said pin normallyurging said pin to protrude upwardly and outwardly from said sleeve to alevel above said table surface, said retracting means secured to thelower end of said pin.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said retractingmeans includes at least one horizontally disposed lever secured to thelower end of said pin and extending outwardly over a pivot point towardsa position below a side edge of said table surface.
 4. The device ofclaim 1 wherein said measuring means includes a digital readout displaymeans.
 5. The method of measuring the distance between an aperture in aplate and a fixed reference point, comprising,providing a table surfacehaving a straight gauge means and an elongated slot extending at rightangles to said gauge means, with a retractable pin extending upwardlythrough said slot above said table surface, and withdrawing said pininto said slot, laying the plate having at least a first aperture andone straight edge on said table surface with said straight edge abuttedagainst said straight gauge means, positioning said first aperture oversaid slot, moving said plate means so that said first aperture isaligned with said slot, moving said withdrawn pin along said slottowards said first aperture, inserting said pin into said firstaperture, and actuating a measuring means to determine the distance fromsaid gauge means to the center of said first aperture.
 6. The method ofclaim 5 wherein said plate has a second aperture, withdrawing said pinfrom said first aperture, moving said plate so that said second apertureis aligned with said slot, moving said withdrawn pin along said slot tosaid second aperture, inserting said pin into said second aperture, andactuating said measuring means to measure the relative distance betweenthe centers of said apertures. .Iadd.
 7. A measuring device forfabricated plate structures, comprising,a flat table surface means,having opposite sides and ends, a support means for such flat tablesurface means, a straight reference gauge means adjacent one end of saidtable surface means, and extending across said table surface means atright angles to said sides, an elongated straight slot in said tablesurface means extending in a direction at right angles to said gaugemeans, a carriage means movably mounted below said table surface, andadapted to be moved in a direction parallel to said slot, a retractablemeasuring reference pin on said carriage and extending upwardly throughsaid slot and having an upper end normally terminating above said tablesurface, and measuring means operative with the location of said pin andsaid gauge means to measure the linear distance between the location ofsaid pin with respect to said gauge means so that measurements relatingto the location of apertures in a plate structure with reference to oneend of said plate abutted against gauge means can be determined whilesaid pin is in its upper position and penetrating an aperture in saidplate structure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein saidreference pin has a tapered upper end. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The device ofclaim 7 wherein a spring means connected to said reference pin normallyholds an upper end on said pin above said table surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The device of claim 8 wherein a spring means connected to saidreference pin normally holds said upper end of said pin on said pinabove said table surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The method of measuringthe distance between an aperture in a plate and a fixed reference pointcomprising,providing a table surface having a straight gauge means andan elongated slot extending at right angles to said gauge means, with aretractable pin extending upwardly through said slot above said tablesurface, laying the plate having at least a first aperture and onestraight edge on said table surface with said straight edge abuttedagainst said straight gauge means, positioning said first aperture oversaid slot, moving said plate means so that said first aperture isaligned with said slot, inserting said pin into said first aperture, andactuating a measuring means to determine the distance from said gaugemeans to the center of said first aperture. .Iaddend.